2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HECN2010 Introduction to Health Economics

10 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Adam Martin
Email: A.Martin1@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

LUBS1951 Economic Theory and Applications
OR
LUBS1952 Economic Theory and Applications for Finance

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module provides students with an understanding of the role and application of economics in health and health care. The module covers some important issues in health economics beginning with how health care markets operate and how they differ from other markets.The application of economic concepts and theories within the module will provide students with an understanding of the challenges facing the health care sector today and how they might be explained and addressed.Topics include the demand for, and supply of health care, health care markets and market failure.

Objectives

- To develop knowledge and understanding of the application of economic theory to health and health care.
- To develop an appreciation of the significant features of health care markets, their strengths and weakness.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module the student will be able to demonstrate:
- knowledge of the nature and role of economics in the context of health and health care;
- understanding and application of relevant concepts and principles to the analysis of given problems within a health care context.

Syllabus

Introduction to economic concepts in the context of health and health care: Is health care different?

Health care as an economic good:
- Uncertainty and the welfare economics of medical care
- Special characteristics of the market: the nature of demand, product uncertainty, expected behaviour of physicians, supply conditions.

Determinants of health and health production:
- Demand for health
- Health production function, production possibility frontier.

Demand for Health:
- Grossman model

Production and Costs of Health Care:
- Production functions
- Substitution
- Returns to scale.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	4	1.00	4.00
Private study hours			85.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

The module will use a reading list of standard texts within health economics, using both textbooks and journal articles.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The course is split into three core sections. Student progress will be monitored at the end of each section using online self-assessment questions based on the lecture, recommended reading and seminar (if applicable).

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

The resit for this module will be 100% by 2 hours examination.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/04/2024 16:16:20

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